x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar

Evergreen Podcasts

Pop culture inspires some serious fun. Join hosts Todd Coats and Elliot Strunk, two creatively curious pals living between the bookends of grand museums and dive bars, the sweet spot where highbrow and lowbrow become drinking buddies. They talk influential work and uncover stories of how the familiar became iconic. Think Behind the Music for the stuff we love. ----- Visit https://www.twodesignerswalkintoabar.com/ for images, links, episode extras and more. ----- Two Designers Walk Into a Bar is part

arts design

All Episodes

63:59

Episode 98: Goodyear’s Blimp, Pixar’s Luxo Lamp and...

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2025/01/08

The Goodyear Blimp is turning 100 years old, so we’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.Ever wonder why a tire company is most known for a blimp? Or why an animation studio has a desk lamp as its trademark? We did. Turns out Goodyear and Pixar didn’t invent either of these things. Learn the origin stories of Goodyear’s blimps, Pixar’s loveable Luxo lamp, and how these adopted objects transcended their initial utility to become known around the world. - - - - - Visit our full episode page

en

35:32

Episode 97: The ‘80s: New Wave Gets Fashionable...

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/12/25

We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.Video may have killed the radio star, but it poured gasoline on the spark of New Wave. As MTV exploded, youth culture moved to center stage and companies making wearables were more than happy to cater to changing tastes. In this episode we focus on Vans and Swatch, a couple of iconic fashion accessories found on the wrists and feet of Gen X. As we wrap-up our season on New Wave, let us know if you feel there's something we missed. We just might circle

en

15:27

Episode 96: Elliot and MTV's The Real World

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/12/11

Today we’re bringing you an example of the bonus content you can find on our Patreon page.In the summer of 1994, the television show The Real World was filming in San Francisco. That same summer Elliot ended up in SF for an internship. One day those two worlds collided in a true Gen X moment. So sit back with a plate full of wings and one of your favorite beers from college. It's time to join us back in the bar. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss,

en

39:39

Episode 95: Return to the Mailbag

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/11/27

In this episode we take a step back from our typical subject matter to dig into our mailbag once again as we answer questions submitted by you, our listeners. Topics include record album art, April Fool’s pranks, Taylor Swift, listener reviews, Broadway shows and some recent speaking gigs. We also plug one of our favorite bar foods: onion rings.So sit back with your favorite warm and cozy beverage. It's time to join us back in the bar. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the

en

46:39

Episode 94: Iconic Music Videos - Part 2

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/11/13

We’re bringing some video tapes with us into the bar — or at least some trusty YouTube links. Why? We’re talking music videos! And we have so much to share, we’ve broken this subject into two episodes.For today, we dusted off an older gem and coupled it with a more current one: a gritty and fun “Need You Tonight” from Australia’s INXS and Taylor Swift’s surreal technicolor dreamscape that is “ME!” We discuss the thinking behind each and then present some closing takeaways to understand why they all

en

44:18

Episode 93: Rural Electrification, Hope for Obama and...

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/11/05

We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.With Election Day happening in the United States, we wanted to mark the occasion with two amazing poster designs. We examine bringing electricity to rural parts of the United States 80 years later and inspiring a nation to rally behind an unknown presidential candidate named Barack Obama, along with how Lester Beall and Shepard Fairey made these big ideas easy to understand. And since Todd loves controversy, he shares the story of how Mr. Fairey found

en

57:53

Episode 92: Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman, Tarantula and...

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/10/30

We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.For our special Halloween episode, and because of our love of B movies, we wanted to pay homage to one of the best horror poster artists of all time, Reynold Brown. We talk about the movie (and poster for) Tarantula, plus what is arguably one of the most recognizable staples of pop culture: the poster for Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman. (The movie? Not so much.) - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional

en

43:08

Episode 91: Iconic Music Videos - Part 1

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/10/23

We're bringing some video tapes with us into the bar -- or at least some trusty YouTube links. Why? We're talking music videos! And we have so much to share, we've broken this subject into two episodes. For today, we've dug into the backs of our closets and dusted off a couple of favorites from yesterday that are still killing it today: a-ha's illustrative "Take on Me" and Peter Gabriel's surreal "Sledgehammer." We discuss why they were made, the creative motivations for each and the unsung heroes

en

54:10

Episode 90: Roller Coaster Logo Battle

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/10/09

Our latest episode is for the thrill seekers. We're pitting roller coaster logos against each other. And not just any roller coasters...We're each representing our home states. So, buckle up by pulling the restraint harness tightly against you, and grab a couple of quick high octane shots. We've got our hands up and our drink lids on tight... We're taking a high-speed drop back into the bar! - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and

en

44:30

Episode 89: Looking Back on Four Years

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/09/25

In honor of International Podcast Day, we’re taking a look back at our own origin story. How the podcast began, why we continue to do it and what could be coming next. It’s the story of two friends, one shared profession and the pop culture love that kickstarted it all.Mix-up a couple of White Russians. We’re taking it slow and philosophical as we wander back into the bar. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and

en

32:17

Episode 88: Talking Music Posters with Paul Hennessey

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/09/11

Both eye-catching and informative, posters are one of the most highly collectible forms of design. They are used to promote products, places, events, art, political movements and almost anything else you can think of. Today we're joined by a special guest from across the Pond, Paul Hennessey, who owns two poster shops in the UK. We talk cats, food sauces, whether Paul may be Banksy and music posters for the Live Aid concerts and Duran Duran's album Rio.Pour yourself a pint and belly on up. It's

en

58:09

Episode 87: Gen X and the Golden Age of Magazines

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/08/28

The late '80s and the '90s were a golden age for magazines. With the World Wide Web a few years away, advertising dollars were being pumped into print and art directors and publishers did not disappoint with their offerings. In this episode we talk about Raygun, Wired, Rolling Stone and Vibe and the approaches of David Carson, Plunkett + Kuhr, Fred Woodward and Gary Koepke. Elliot also tells the story of trying to get an internship at one of these lauded publications.Flip to your favorite liquor ad

en

59:03

Episode 86: Gen X Music Appears from Underground

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/08/14

The late '80s and the '90s were a golden age for Gen X music, even well beyond the long shadow of Nirvana's Nevermind. We flipped through the crates to prep for this episode. With sore fingers and tired eyes we walk through iconic albums by Bjork, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Pixies.Grab your favorite concert t-shirt and a cool PBR. It's time once again to join us in the bar. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional links and

en

54:17

Episode 85: Selling to Gen X Without Selling Out

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/07/31

Gen X was coming of age during cynicism and ironic detachment. A DIY attitude rooted in authenticity coupled with increasing access to personal tech and an explosion of choices in alternative media. And most importantly, lack of trust in corporations. Companies (and their marketing departments) had to think of ways to sell to those who didn’t want to be sold to... Advertisers like Benetton, the Gap and and Diesel Jeans undertook this task with some interesting results.Grab a cold growler of your

en

57:00

Episode 84: Denver, Los Angeles and Stories of...

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/07/26

We’re revisiting one of our classic episodes.Bum-bum-ba-bum-bummm…Nothing brings the world together every couple of years like the Olympic Games. With such a large stage and a chance to influence audiences around the globe, designers jump at the chance to create something great. In this episode we discuss what did (or didn’t) happen in Denver in 1976 and the Technicolor vibrancy of Los Angeles in 1984. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the visual examples we discuss, additional

en

41:19

Episode 83: When Gen X Came of Age

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/07/17

Let’s plop down on the couch in your favorite record store or skate shop for a few minutes. It’s time to relive the end of the 1980s and begin a new decade of cultural change.In this episode we discuss what was in the news, the invention of the "slacker" character, the mood of skepticism, irony and emotional detachment that grew out of the glossy 80s, culture jamming and not selling out even as personal technology began to take hold. We also try to get to the bottom of whatever the term

en

71:58

Episode 82: Riffs on Riffs Crossover

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/07/03

Record albums. You know 'em. You love 'em. But do your favorites fall short when art overshadows music (or vice versa)? We invited a couple of buddies to the bar — Joe Watson and Toby Brazwell from the Riffs on Riffs podcast — for a conversation about a handful of desert island-level albums: how they sound, what they look like and if, ultimately, the combination works. We talk earworms, visual puns, the classic and the obscure, leveraging their expertise to make us look smart and their wallets to

en

51:39

Episode 81: Fun Food Containers

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/06/19

History repeats itself... There are no new ideas… Everything old is new again…Sure, we get excited when we have custom meal kits delivered to our homes or when we see amazing food in farmer’s markets and grocery stores near our homes. But food marketing has been around for a really long time. Today we discuss a couple of popular approaches from yesterday that continue to reappear in pop culture today: Charles Chips and fruit crate labels. - - - - - Visit our full episode page for show notes, the

en

51:55

Episode 80: Vernacular Architecture

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/06/05

Did you ever look at a building with a business inside and think, “Yeah…that totally used to be something else” and wonder how you knew that? You know, the jewelry store that used to be a pizza parlor or the drive-up coffee shop that was once a spot to drop off film are peppered in towns all across the country. Today we’re talking about a couple of businesses that, in their respective heydays, could be found in shopping centers and strip malls everywhere.- - - - - Visit our full episode page for

en

46:07

Episode 79: Signs of the Times

Two Designers Walk Into a Bar ·

2024/05/22

There are visual icons that have symbolized professions for so long their origin stories are unknown to the very customers served by them. These independent businesses are owned by all kinds of people serving millions on a daily basis throughout the world, all using these same basic signs outside their establishments. We're discussing barber poles and pawnbroker balls, two icons that, unless you’re truly in the middle of nowhere, you can find within minutes of where you live, work or both.- - - -

en

125 results

Similar Podcasts

Podcast Patapoe

0d0a

Diaries: From the Housing Projects to Power

Mia Z. Edwards

九霄电台

九霄电台

The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio| Daily Mystery Dramas

Adam Graham|Old Time Radio Detective Host

The Magnus Archives

Rusty Quill